HOW WE’RE SUPPORTING THE WELLBEING OF OUR COLLEAGUES AT BNP PARIBAS PERSONAL FINANCE UK
2023-10-31 12:52:57.0
The wellbeing of our colleagues has been a long-standing priority at BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK.
From our Wellbeing Champions to our Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) networks, it’s part of our mission to ensure that our colleagues have access to the support they need to look after their wellbeing.
To mark National Stress Awareness Day, we sat down with our colleagues to learn more about what wellbeing means at BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK, and the initiatives that are in place to support our colleagues.
What does wellbeing mean at BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK?
We spoke with Head of Digital Product and Customer Experience, Dean Elliott, to discuss BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK’s approach to wellbeing.
“We’ve broadened our approach to wellbeing to make it as accessible as possible. As a result, our ongoing wellbeing programme focuses on five key areas: body, mind, people, career, and finance,” Dean explained.
“As a company, BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK recognises the importance of building resilience and supporting colleagues across multiple aspects of their life — from their financial health to their career development, and everything in between.”
What initiatives are in place to support colleagues?
At BNP Paribas Personal Finance, we understand that looking after the wellbeing of our colleagues requires a multi-layered approach.
Not everyone will be experiencing the same issues, at the same time, and in the same way.
Therefore, to ensure that we have a range of support in place, we have developed a series of initiatives, including:
- Our Employee Assistance Programme giving colleagues free confidential 24/7 access to counsellors and life management guidance on anything from health and education to finance and legal matters
- A number of D&I networks to foster belonging in the workplace and encouraging important conversations amongst colleagues by removing the taboo around sensitive subjects
- Inclusive Leadership training designed to improve awareness around diversity and inclusion, and simple but impactful practices, such as implementing colleague pronoun preferences
- Wellbeing awareness sessions for new starters and managers to embed the conversation of wellbeing from the very beginning of their time at BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK
- Our team of Wellbeing Champions — colleagues trained to support fellow colleagues on the topic of wellbeing and mental health
David Sloan, Product Governance Manager, has been a Wellbeing Champion for over five years and spoke to us about how their presence supports colleagues across the business.
David explained: “Our Wellbeing Champions are an amazing group of people. We have about 30 wellbeing champions across the organisation and they're there for anyone to talk to.
“Wellbeing Champions are there to listen to colleagues, help them with any concerns they have or support they may need, whether that be mental health-related, relating to financial issues, or even if they just need to offload after a stressful day.”
Making wellbeing part of everyday conversation
Clarisse Smith, Diversity and Inclusion Business Partner, plays a central role in making wellbeing a focal point of the organisation.
She told us how the initiatives in place have been designed to remove the taboo around wellbeing: “We've developed a range of wellbeing training sessions for colleagues, from awareness sessions for new starters to sessions for managers. These sessions highlight the need to embed wellbeing in one-to-ones, general day-to-day activities, and also in the return-to-work process.
“The aims of the sessions are to raise awareness around wellbeing, breakdown the barriers and the stigma around talking about wellbeing, whilst also making sure it's part of our everyday conversations.”
The development of these initiatives form part of BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK’s ongoing efforts to support the mental health and wellbeing of colleagues, efforts which were recognised by Mind earlier this year.
As part of the Workplace Wellbeing Index, Mind’s benchmark of best policy and practice, BNP Paribas Personal Finance was recognised with a Silver Award.
Whilst this is a great achievement, we acknowledge that there is more work to be done to ensure that every colleague feels supported in the workplace.
Interested in working for a Top Employer with a Mind Silver Award? We’re hiring! Explore our latest career opportunities here.